Saturday, 23 November 2013

International Solidarity Movement, Charlie Andreasson
I was just going to make dinner when I realized the filtered water in my tank was almost done. Perhaps it would be enough if I used the last of my bottled water. But then I would have nothing to drink with my meal. And there would be no coffee, not after the food and not for breakfast. Glances at the tap, I considered diluting the filtered water with tapwater, in order to save time and to avoid having to walk two blocks to fill the tank. It was dark outside, and the shop with water might be closed.

Tapwater cannot be used for cooking, or should not be used for cooking. I avoid doing it anyway. I wash dishes in it, but do not use it to cook my rice. It’s salt. Saltwater penetrates the underground aquifier, which it is larger than the natural supply of fresh water can fill. But the seawater is not its only contaminant. According to the United Nation, chemicals and sewage also pollute it, which is not surprising when 90,000 cubic meters of untreated sewage gush out every day. Sewage, from the toilets, back in the taps. With water treatment plants, that works. But in Gaza, the problem is that there is not enough diesel to run the generators around the clock. And for those Israel has bombed, well, it also stops the import of replacement parts. Meanwhile seawater, chemicals and sewage increase in the water supply. By 2016, UN expects the water to become completely unusable. Only three years are left until then. And at 2020, no one they say, no one will be able to live here. more

GAZA (Ma'an) -- Two Palestinians were shot and injured by Israeli soldiers east of Jabaliya in the northern Gaza Strip on Friday.

A spokesman for the Gaza Ministry of Health Ashraf al-Qidra said that two Palestinians in their twenties were shot.

One was shot in the thigh, and one was hit with a bullet fragment in the head, he added.

They were transferred to Kamal Adwan hospital for treatment.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said that "a riot erupted as Palestinians gathered near the security fence," and after the Palestinians "sabotaged" the fence, Israeli forces "opened fire on their lower extremities." more

Saturday November 23, 2013] The Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, has reported that five Palestinians have been wounded during clashes with extremist Israeli settlers, while Israeli soldiers kidnapped five more Palestinians.

Coordinator of the Popular Committee, Rateb Jabour, stated that a scuffle took place between members of a Palestinian family and a group of settlers in Um Al-A’rayes area, as the family protested in its land that, illegally occupied by extremist settlers.

Jabour added that the settlers are still illegally occupying the 120 Dunams (29.65 Acres) despite the fact that an Israeli court decided to give back the land to its Palestinian owners and to compensate the residents for their losses. more

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Egyptian authorities shut down Rafah crossing for the second day in a row after opening it to traffic for two days.

Egyptian authorities closed off the crossing on Thursday evening after a few passengers were able to leave.

Thousands of Palestinians remain waiting for it to re-open so they can cross.

Hamas officials in Gaza explained that they are making calls with Egyptian officials in an effort to reopen it.

Earlier this month, Gaza government officials said that they were concerned about the closure of the crossing, accusing the Egyptian side of tightening the blockade on the Gaza Strip and worsening the humanitarian situation. more